Protective device for drinks cans

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a protective device for drinks cans. The inventive device consists of a thin, deformable discoid body comprising numerous radial notches along the periphery thereof. Internally, the device comprises a series of curvilinear cuts which are concentric with the edge of the disk, thereby defining peripheral areas which are intended to be positioned below the upper rim at the top of the cylindrical body of the can.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protective device for drink cans.

As stated in the title, there is provided an element applicable to a canof the type used for containing soft drinks and the like, for protectingit against external agents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, cans of the above type are exposed, while stored, tovarious agents such as dust, dirt, and other materials, which maycontaminate the outer surface of those cans, just at the region thatremains in contact with a person's lips when the liquid contained isconsumed, as is common practice, by sucking directly from the can.

Until recently, apart from a simple lid in the form of a cylindricaldisk of a very short height relative to its diameter, and SpanishUtility Model U9991209, no practical and cost effective device was knownthat prevents dirt from being formed on a drink can.

A cylindrical lid of the above type has many disadvantages: it must beapplied to the outside of the can top rim, so that it may be easilyreleased, and therefore its protective feature may get lost, and inaddition it has to be made from a material such as plastic whereby itscost has to be taken into consideration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device which will be now described allows overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages. It consists of a discoidal member which isapplied to the top of a can for soft drinks or the like, and istemporarily retained thereto, covering said portion and thus preventingdust and other materials from being formed thereon.

When the user is going to drink from the can the protective member isfirst detached, this operation being carried out with hardly any effort,leaving the can top and the closure member thereof accessible; thesewill be clean precisely due to the insulating function of the protectivedevice.

For ease of disclosure, the present description is accompanied bydrawings in which one case of embodiment of a protective device fordrink cans is shown by way of an illustrative and non-limitative exampleaccording to the principles of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan and side elevational view of the new protectivedevice for drink cans.

FIG. 2 shows, in an enlarged, fragmentary view, the position of theprotective device on a can of the above mentioned type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The elements indicated by the reference numerals in the drawingscorrespond to the parts referenced hereinbelow.

The protective device of this patent consist of a thin body 1 which ispreferably circular in shape (even though it could also take otherforms), made from an easily deformable material, such as, for example,cardboard, plastic or metal.

The body 1 has, on its periphery, a number of radial notches 2 which areadvantageously angular in shape, with their vertexes facing the centerof the piece.

Likewise, the body 1 has curvilinear cuts 3, concentric with the edgesof the body itself and at a distance from them similar to the length ofthe radial notches 2.

The can 4 is of the known type having at the top of its cylindrical bodya frustoconical portion 5 and a concentric rim 6.

POSITIONING AND USE OF THE DEVICE

The described protective device is positioned on a drink can as follows:

The disk 1 is positioned overlapping and centered on the rim 6 (wherebyit will protect the central portion of the upper base of the body 4),and thus the peripheral areas 7 defined by the cuts 3 project from therim itself. Subsequently, a slight force is applied to said areas 7resulting in their downward flexion which is facilitated by the radialnotches 2. The cuts 3 are positioned with their lower sides locatedbelow the rim 6, resulting in that the disk 1 remains attached to thebody 4 of the can.

The frustoconical portion 5, which will also be in contact with theuser's lips, is protected by the protruding areas 7 and it is shelteredfrom dust and other materials.

When the contents of the can is going to be consumed, the describeddevice is easily detached by applying a slight force in the direction oflifting the flanges formed by the peripheral areas 7.

Furthermore, the device itself may form an excellent advertisingcarrier, since logos and inscriptions regarding the product containedtherein or other products and services may be included on one or both ofits two faces.

The number of notches 2 and cuts 3 may be varied in accordance with thesize of the disk 1 and the can 4.

1. A protective device for drink cans, of the type intended to be placedon the upper base of a can, characterized in that it consists in a thinbody (1) having advantageously a discoidal shape and made from an easilydeformable material, provided on its periphery with a number of radialnotches (2) which are substantially angular in shape and a number ofcurvilinear cuts (3), concentric with the edges of the disk (1) andarranged between the notches (2), defining peripheral areas (7) whichcan be arranged by flexion below the upper rim (6) formed on the upperportion (5) of the cylindrical body (4) of a can.